Industrial competitiveness

Crisis: Europe on the right track but recovery is still modest. The new Commission Communication "For a European Industrial Renaissance" calls on Member States to boost post-crisis growth and modernisation.

While fully endorsing the integrated industrial policy approach outlined in the Industrial Policy Communications of 2010 and 2012, the new Communication, adopted on 22 January 2014 as a contribution to the 2014 European Council debate on industrial policy, emphasises on the need to assure full and effective implementation of this integrated approach through well co-ordinated and consistent policy actions at all levels.

To this purpose, the new Communication calls on Member States to recognise the central importance of industry for creating jobs and growth, and of mainstreaming industry-related competitiveness concerns across all policy areas. In particular the Commission brings to the attention of the Council the following priorities: internal market, regional development, access to critical inputs, integration of EU firms in global value chains and the endorsement of the reindustrialisation efforts linked to the 20% to GDP target by 2020.

In addition, the Communication puts forward a limited number of new actions to speed up the attainment of these priorities, in the following domains: energy, transport, space and digital communications networks, internal market, investment in innovation, resource efficiency, new technologies, skills and access to finance, simplification of the legislative framework, efficiency of public administration, SMEs and entrepreneurship, access to third country markets and better integration of industrial and regional policies. More information on the 2014 Communication.